Is high-risk drug use increasing in Finland? The prevalence of high-risk amphetamine and opioid use in 2017.
Abstract
Drug use has increased in Finland during past decade. The aim of the study was to examine prevalence of high-risk amphetamine and opioid use on the population level and by age and sex. Observations on amphetamines and opioid use were extracted from government registers. Overall level of high-risk drug use was modelled using the capture-recapture method (CRC). There were 31,100-44,300 problem users of amphetamines and opioids in Finland in 2017, which is 0.91-1.29% of Finns aged 15-64. High-risk use was most common among people aged 25-34 (1.72%), and in men (1.28-1.70%). The high-risk opioid and amphetamine use is in higher level than previously estimated in Finland. Results also show that high-risk drug use population is not aging in Finland. Social and health care services should be designed to meet the growing need due to increasing problematic use.